Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
650. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish an implementation plan with a clear timeframe for the recommendation in the 2012 Government rapportuer on child protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36650/13]
View answerDr. Geoffrey Shannon is the current Special Rapporteur on Child Protection.
The functions of the Rapporteur are:
- to keep under review and to audit legal developments for the protection of children;
- to assess what impact, if any, litigation in national and international courts will have on child protection;
- to prepare, annually, a report setting out the results of the previous year’s work. This report will be submitted to the Dáil and Seanad for consideration and debate and be published.
- To examine, upon request, the scope and application of existing legislative provisions and to make comments/recommendations as appropriate.
Dr. Shannon has submitted his report for 2012. In his report, Dr Shannon addresses and makes recommendations in relation to the following key areas:
- Child Protection and Developments in International Law;
- Protecting Children from Children – Bullying
- The Law on Guardianship of Children
- Miscellaneous Domestic Issues
The report exceeds 200 pages, and in total, Dr. Shannon makes 66 recommendations under the above 4 headings.
While the report was submitted to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Report’s recommendations relate to a number of Departments and Agencies.
The following Departments were identified as relevant to the recommendations made by the Rapporteur.
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs;
- Department of Justice and Equality;
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
- Department of Education and Skills;
- Department of Health;
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Department of Social Protection
- Department of Finance
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
The majority of recommendations relate to the Department of Justice and Equality, regarding children seeking asylum in Ireland, and legislative implications on guardianship of children.
Recommendations presented in relation to bullying are cross-departmental in their focus, impacting on the Departments of Justice and Equality, Children and Youth Affairs and Education and Skills.
As in previous years, the 2012 report of the Child Protection Rapporteur has been circulated to all relevant Departments, for information.
It is a matter for individual Departments to take the appropriate action on any recommendation relevant to its work. Where recommendations are proper to the DCYA they form part of the process of policy development and, if appropriate, inform the usual business planning processes.
